For someone who loves flowers as much as I do, it feels like a bold statement to say California Poppies are my favourite, but they easily are. I love how they seem to be so many things all at once, and how many of those qualities are contradictory. They are delicate yet wild, cheery and bright while also having calming properties that help reduce anxiety. Actually, whenever I am feeling anxious, my husband tells me, "you're just a poppy in the wind." You might feel like you're loosing control or all over the place but you are rooted and will be just fine. Fittingly enough, when we arrived to the poppy reserve, the winds picked up, the poppies danced and we wandered around the orange fields completely smitten by the sweetest flower.
Spring Line | Korinne Vader
When I was younger, I was always so excited to get a new outfit for the first day of school, my birthday or whatever seemingly monumental occasion was happening in my youth. I remember trying on countless outfits until my room resembled the aftermath of a clothing tornado. My requirements for clothing included that it looked great and cost little. It wasn't until I got older that I began to understand the actual costs of clothing, both on the environment and for factory workers. The more I learned about the fashion industry the more important it became to me to wear clothing made locally with intention and love.
When I met Korinne Vader last year, all of those things came together. Korinne creates unique handmade goods that reflect the beautiful imperfection of nature and humankind. She designs and sews everything from her home studio on Vancouver Island. Her craftsmanship and ability to create effortless designs makes each piece unique yet timeless. I am so grateful to photograph such a lovely collection.
Below are some photographs from her spring line which you can find here.
waking dream
We woke early that morning, the sun hardly visible behind a dense layer of fog. It was one of the first cold mornings after an even colder... our tent weighed down with condensation. As we walked down the road, hundreds of webs lit the way. An open field too bright for tired eyes held in it the most magnificent sight. Had we not been close enough to touch, I would have sworn it all a dream.
